Arts preview: local artists exhibit on the street for ArtWalk Extra

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ArtWalk, the annual charity gallery crawl, makes for an action-packed night. But a few years back, after realising that few galleries were showing Hong Kong artists, organiser John Batten decided to introduce ArtWalk Extra to add some local flavour to the one-evening event. The ArtWalk Extra artists exhibit outside on the streets, for all to see.

"We want to encourage Hong Kong artists to show," says Batten, who has been organising the event for 10 years.

"It's something you can do in between the different galleries, something to see on the street. I've a big interest in the streets and heritage of Hong Kong. This is a good way for people to appreciate the streets by going down alleys and places they don't normally go."

Approximately 20 artists and artistic outfits will stage performances, installations, and other happenings around the 60 participating galleries in Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Aberdeen and beyond.

"There are no strict rules about ArtWalk Extra, although it tends to be local, younger artists," explains Batten. "They must be willing to compromise a little bit, because it's on the street."

Gerard Henry's drawings, for instance, will be blown up and put on walls and outside vacant shops, while Dick Lai Chun-ling will serve up his meat performance on the Pound Lane steps in Sheung Wan.

Kitty Ko Sin-tung's video of images of the streets will be looped on a vintage television set placed among rubbish bins and abandoned belongings to symbolise the disappearing essence of Hong Kong.

Sunday Lai Long-sang, a visual arts graduate from Baptist University, is working on a video installation that involves a parked van.

A video documenting Ling Pui-sze creating a painting by using the zheng, a Chinese zither, with inked strings will be projected.

For participants who want a glimpse of a working artist's studio, Emma Fordham and sculptor Richard Zawitz will open their studios in Wong Chuk Hang. "It's nice when the artists are there and people can talk to them about their work," says Batten.

"An ephemeral event like ArtWalk Extra doesn't need to be perfect. It needs to be interesting and eye-catching. Anyone can see it. You don't need a ticket for the Extra. It's a community event," he says.